Abbot Kurt explains his coat of arms

Thursday May 25, 2017

This week's episode of the "Echoes from the Bell Tower" podcast
is a brief story from Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB, about his coat
of arms.

At Saint Meinrad, there is a tradition that each new abbot
develops a personal coat of arms. When Archabbot Kurt was elected
last June, he worked with an artist monk, Br. Martin Erspamer, OSB,
to design his coat of arms. You can see a photo of it on this
page.

The coat of arms includes a ribbon with the words "Hope, Hold
Firm, Take Heart." This is Archabbot Kurt's motto, taken from Psalm
26:14: "In the Lord, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!"
(The Grail Psalter).

Above the shield is a symbol of a hat, called a galero, with 12
tassels forming the sides of the design. These indicate that the
coat of arms is for an abbot.

The abbot's coat of arms is different from the abbey's coat of
arms, which you also can see on this page. The abbey's coat of arms
features a ship, representing the early monks' voyage to America
from their mother abbey in Switzerland, and two ravens, which is
taken from the mother abbey's coat of arms (Einsiedeln Abbey).

You can listen to the episode at the top of this page or go to
iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts and download
"Echoes from the Bell Tower." Thanks for listening!

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Echoes from the Bell Tower is a blog
devoted to observations on Christian faith, spirituality and
everyday events, by authors with a connection to the Benedictine
values found at Saint Meinrad Archabbey and its Seminary and School
of Theology. Contributors include students, permanent deacons,
Benedictine oblates and Saint Meinrad monks. Their stories,
thoughts and ideas highlight the mission and vision that ring out
from the bell towers on this Hill in southern Indiana.